Playmobil facts for kids
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| Type | Plastic figures |
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| Inventor(s) | Hans Beck |
| Company | Geobra Brandstätter GmbH |
| Country | Germany |
| Availability | 1974–present |
| Materials | |
Playmobil is a popular line of toys from Germany. It's made by a company called the Brandstätter Group, located in Zirndorf, Germany. The most famous Playmobil toy is a small human figure, about 7.5 centimeters (3 inches) tall, with a friendly smiling face. Along with these figures, Playmobil offers many different accessories, buildings, vehicles, and animals.
Playmobil toys are sold in special themed sets, as well as individual figures and playsets. The company often creates new products and themes, while older sets are stopped. Sometimes, special or limited-edition items are made in small numbers. This has led to a large group of collectors who enjoy Playmobil. These collectors do more than just collect; they also customize figures, play miniature games, create photo stories, and even make stop-motion films.
Contents
The Story of Playmobil
Who Invented Playmobil?
Playmobil was created by a German inventor named Hans Beck (1929–2009). He is known as the "Father of Playmobil." Beck was trained as a cabinetmaker and loved building model airplanes. He even suggested making model airplanes to the company Geobra Brandstätter. However, the owner, Horst Brandstätter, asked Beck to create toy figures for children instead. (Before this, the company made things like decorations for caskets and handles.)
How Playmobil Was Developed
Beck spent three years, from 1971 to 1974, working on what would become Playmobil. He did a lot of research to make a toy that wasn't too complicated but still offered plenty of ways to play. He believed that too much flexibility could limit a child's imagination, while too little could be frustrating. The toy he designed was small enough to fit in a child's hand. Its face was inspired by children's drawings: a big head, a wide smile, and no nose. Beck once said, "I would put the little figures in their hands without saying anything about what they were. They accepted them right away... They invented little scenarios for them. They never grew tired of playing with them."
A Big Start in 1974
The 1973 oil crisis actually helped Playmobil become a success. Oil prices went up, which meant it cost more to make large plastic items like hula hoops. Geobra Brandstätter, where Beck worked, needed to make products that used less plastic. Playmobil figures were perfect because they were small and didn't need much material.
In 1974, the first Playmobil sets were shown. These included knights, Native Americans, and construction workers. At first, some people weren't sure about the toys. But when they were shown at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg that same year, a Dutch company decided to buy a whole year's worth of production! By the end of 1974, Playmobil had made 3 million Deutschmarks in sales, which was a big part of the company's total sales. Playmobil started selling worldwide in 1975. By 2009, over 2.2 billion Playmobil figures had been sold around the world.
Playmobil vs. Lego
Playmobil has always been a big competitor to Lego toys. Both companies often have similar types of toys in their collections. Playmobil toys are usually very realistic. They show accurate details of clothes, weapons, and tools from different time periods. Their modern sets, like cars, cranes, and fire engines, are especially known for their amazing detail.
Playmobil Products
Who Are Playmobil Toys For?
Playmobil toys are mainly made for children aged four to twelve. The company believes that older kids usually move on to other types of toys. However, many adults also collect Playmobil and even use the toys to make movies.
The very first Playmobil sets featured Native Americans, construction workers, and knights.
Figure Design and Features
Playmobil figures were designed so their hands could hold objects. Early figures had arms made from one piece. But since 1982, all figures have hands that can also turn at the wrist. Most Playmobil figures don't have names. This allows children to imagine their own characters and stories. Some exceptions are characters from Playmobil video games, like Alex, Hype, and Laura.
The first figures had a hairpiece with a button shape for adding hats. Later, the hairpiece was redesigned to look more natural, which also changed how the headgear fit. The first female figures were different because of their hairstyles and a wider chest piece that looked like a skirt.
Building Playmobil Sets
Most Playmobil sets need to be put together by the owner. Buildings, especially, come with detailed instructions. Playmobil building parts used to fit together with a system of tabs and slots called "Steck-System." More recently, a new building system called "System-X" was introduced. This system uses small connector pieces and a special tool. System-X is now the main way Playmobil sets are built, and Steck-System is mostly retired, except for some special reissues.
Unreleased Playmobil Sets
Over the years, some ideas for Playmobil sets were considered but never released. These included Chinese Railroad Workers and a Grave Digger for the Western theme, as well as a Medieval Torture Room. Prototypes were made, but these sets were thought to be unsuitable for young children. However, there are sets with ghosts and a mummy that includes a skeleton.
Other Playmobil Items
For a while, Playmobil also sold pop-up books where the buildings matched the height of the figures. There were also comic books, coloring books, and puzzles.
In 2019, a new product called Playmobil Pro was shown. This line brings Playmobil figures into the world of grown-ups and businesses. It's meant for adult professionals to use in creative workshops, similar to Lego Serious Play. Playmobil Pro figures are white and have simple designs, different from the classic figures. Playmobil Pro became available in the United States in January 2020.
Playmobil Around the World
Many different companies in Europe and Latin America were given permission to make and sell Playmobil figures:
- In Spain, the dollmaker Famosa made figures called "los clicks de Famobil." Spanish packages would even say how many male dolls (clicks) and female dolls (clacks) were inside.
- Greek figures were made in the 1970s by a company called Lyra.
- In Argentina, Playmobil is made by Antex for all of South America.
- From 1976 to 1980, Louis Marx and Company sold Playmobil in the United Kingdom under the name Playpeople.
Playmobil was first brought to the United States by Mattel and Schaper. In 1982, Schaper planned a special event to give out Playmobil toys in McDonald's Happy Meals. Five different toys were planned: a Sheriff, an Indian, a Sheriff's Horse, an Umbrella Girl, and a Farmer. About 10 million Sheriff and Indian toys were given out. However, McDonald's stopped the promotion before the other toys were released. This happened because tests showed that the toys didn't meet safety rules from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. These rules are designed to prevent very young children (under three) from choking on small parts. (It's important to know that no children actually choked on these toys.) McDonald's told customers with children under three to stop using the toys and return them for a dessert, a cone, or a refund.
In 2004, BMW made a special BMW Z4 car that was the same size as Playmobil figures. It even came with two Playmobil passengers. At first, you could only get one of these Z4s (in red or blue) by taking a test drive at a BMW dealership in Germany. Later, yellow or eggshell blue versions were sold in European toy stores. Even though Playmobil didn't make them, they were officially allowed.
Fake Playmobil Toys
In 1978, a company called Schenk in Hungary started making fake Playmobil figures. They didn't have permission from Geobra Brandstätter. Schenk made exact copies, but some sets were changed to create new types of toys, often military figures from Hungarian history. For example, they made Hussar (Huszár) figures from the Hungarian War of Independence.
Schenk figures, like early Playmobil figures, don't have hands that move. Also, Schenk horses don't have movable heads, unlike Playmobil horses. Schenk figures also came in different colors and were made with lower quality plastic. After communism ended, a court ruled in 1995 that Schenk could no longer make or sell these fake figures. The owner was allowed to sell his remaining toys only in Hungary until March 1996. However, you might still find some Schenk fake toys in Hungary.
Fake Playmobil sets have also been made in China. These sets are not sold as Playmobil, but they look the same, though their quality is not as good. Some examples include a "Noshery" (a fast-food place), "Pirate Island," and medieval figures.
Where Playmobil is Made
Playmobil Factories in Europe
Playmobil has three main factories in Europe: Germany, Malta, and Spain. Each factory specializes in making certain parts. All the parts needed for a set are sent to one location where they are put together and packaged for sale. Malta focuses on making the characters and some accessories. Spain specializes in accessories. Germany makes larger items like ships and castles.
How Playmobil is Sold
Releasing New Playmobil Sets
New Playmobil sets are released over a two-year period. Countries that are "non-export markets" get the new sets first. Then, the "export markets" receive them a year later. This system helps Playmobil save money. They only need to make one expensive mold for each new piece. This first mold is used to make enough toys to fill store shelves when the new sets are first released. After that, Playmobil makes smaller amounts to restock shelves as needed. If they released sets to the whole world at the same time, they would need to buy two of each mold, and the second mold would become useless later on.
Non-export markets:
- Germany
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Belgium
- Netherlands
- Luxembourg
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Norway
Export markets:
- All countries not in the list above.
Playmobil Themes and Collections
Here are some of the Playmobil themes that are currently produced as of October 2023:
You can even create your own custom figures on the official website: https://www.playmobil.us/shop-online/shop/figures.
- 1.2.3 (a simpler series for younger children with fewer pieces)
- Ayuma
- Christmas
- City Action
- City Life
- Color
- Country
- Dinosaurs
- Dino Rise
- Dollhouse
- Dragons
- Dragons: The Nine Realms
- Famous Cars
- Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
- Magnum, P.I.’s Ferrari 308 GTB
- Ferrari SF90 Stradale
- Porsche 911
- Aston Martin DB5
- The A-Team’s GMC Vandura
- Knight Rider’s KITT
- Volkswagen Type 1
- Volkswagen Type 2
- Mini Cooper
- Family Fun
- Ghostbusters
- History
- Naruto
- NHL
- Novelmore
- Pirates
- Princess Magic
- Scooby-Doo
- Space
- Sports & Action
- Star Trek
- Stunt Show
- WilTopia
The fastest-selling Playmobil figure ever is of Martin Luther. It was released to celebrate 500 years since he wrote the Ninety-five Theses, which started the Reformation. The first 34,000 figures sold out in just three days!
Playmobil FunParks and Stores
Playmobil has its own amusement parks called FunParks. These parks have play areas and events based on Playmobil toys. There are also FunStores inside FunParks, and there used to be some in other places too. FunStores are special Playmobil shops that sell all the latest Playmobil toys.
FunPark and FunStore locations include:
- FunPark Athens, Greece (mostly toys indoors, not as many outdoor play areas as Malta and Zirndorf)
- FunPark Ħal Far, Malta - part of the Playmobil Park factory
- FunPark Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US (This park is now closed. It was the first and only Playmobil Funpark outside Europe.)
- FunPark Fresnes, France (This was a small park, mostly toys, and is now closed.)
- FunPark Zirndorf, Germany - right next to the Playmobil main office
Playmobil in Movies
- The Secret of Pirate Island (2009): This was a 3D animated interactive DVD based on the Pirates theme.
- A movie that mixed live-action and animation, called Playmobil: The Movie, was released in December 2019. It was made by French studios On Entertainment, Wild Bunch, and Pathé. Animator Lino DiSalvo directed the movie.
However, the movie didn't do very well at the box office. It was released just a few weeks after Frozen II. Some theaters tried selling tickets for only $5. On its opening day, Playmobil only made $167,000, which was one of the lowest opening days ever for a movie shown in over 2,000 theaters. It ended up making $660,000 on its opening weekend. One writer from Variety said that the Playmobil brand was much less popular than Lego, which might have been why the movie didn't do well.
Playmobil TV Series
- In 2014, a CGI animated TV series inspired by Playmobil figures called Super 4 was made. It was shown on channels like Boomerang in Latin America, CITV in Britain, Cartoon Network in Italy, and Netflix and KidsClick in the United States.
- On November 4, 2020, a CGI animated TV series called Novelmore started on the Playmobil YouTube channel and on YouTube Kids. It has 26 episodes and is about the Knights of Novelmore fighting for magical armor.
- On May 2, 2021, an animated series called Dino Rise – The Legend of Dino Rock began. The story is about a group of friends who team up with a T-Rex and the Keepers of Dino Rock to save the world.
- Another Playmobil series, Ayuma, started on October 8 on YouTube and YouTube Kids. In this story, mysterious Bat Fairies appear and try to steal crystals from Ayuma's magical energy source. Young fairies must protect their world.
- DUCK ON CALL is a separate CGI animated series on YouTube and YouTube Kids. It takes young fans to Playmoville and tells funny stories about lovable rescuers. The first episode, introducing Ducklas and the young rescue team, was planned for March, with more episodes coming in June.
Playmobil Video Games
- Alex Builds his Farm: A game for children aged 7-10 where players help Alex on his farm.
- Hype: The Time Quest: An adventure game set in the Knights theme.
- Laura's Happy Adventures: An adventure game set in the Doll's House theme.
- Playmobil: Knights - for Nintendo DS
- Playmobil: Pirates - for Nintendo DS
- Playmobil: Circus - for Wii
- Playmobil: Top Agents - for Nintendo DS
See also
In Spanish: Playmobil para niños
- Kubrick (toy)
- Minifigure
- Minimates
